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just wondering how do you directly convert something like 1.8*10^-5 into something that starts with a 1 ...like....1*10^something without a calc

If that doesnt make any sense check this out,
....a problem from the pr sat ii chem book

-log(1.8*10^-5)
the next thing they tell is directly the answer which is 4.7..........howd thet do that???

By Bigman82085 (Bigman82085) on Monday, October 06, 2003 - 06:57 pm: Edit

Log(xy)=Log(x)+Log(y)
So in this situation, pH(I'm assuming this is a pH problem)=-(log(1.8)+log(10^-5)) Log(10^-5) is equal to -5 and log(1.8) is closer to zero than one. So the answer is between 4.5 and 5. I hope the answers weren't that close together.

By Becks777 (Becks777) on Monday, October 06, 2003 - 06:58 pm: Edit

Oh......you are awesome bigman!!!